Wangard News

$32 Million Milwaukee Tool Expansion Project Receives Support from WEDC; Company to Create 350 New Jobs

Governor Scott Walker announced today that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is providing Milwaukee Tool Co. with $8 million in state tax credits to support the company’s plans to build a $32 million R&D facility in Brookfield – a project expected to create 350 new jobs.

“A little more than two years ago, Milwaukee Tool announced the expansion of their headquarters creating nearly 600 jobs in Brookfield, and now we are here today to announce yet another expansion that will create 350 more jobs,” said Governor Walker, who joined company officials in a ceremonial groundbreaking event at the company’s headquarters. “As a global manufacturer, Milwaukee Tool had other options for its latest expansion, but chose Wisconsin because of our dedicated workforce and strong business climate. Thank you to Milwaukee Tool for their continued commitment to creating jobs, contributing to our economy, and growing in our state.”

Milwaukee Tool has purchased a 3.5-acre site near its current facility that will house an advanced manufacturing research and development facility and office space. The 114,500-square foot, multi-story building starts construction in Q3 and is expected to be completed by Q4 of 2019, bringing their global headquarter space from 390,000 square feet to an approximate 504,500 square feet.

The company plans to create 350 jobs at the facility over the next five years – primarily engineering and software positions with an annual average salary of $75,000.

“When you look at the growth our company has achieved in the last decade, the catalyst for our success has been our people. The drive, determination, and obsession of our employees has enabled us to continue delivering disruptive innovation for the professional trades and our distribution partners,” said Steve Richman, Milwaukee Tool Group President. “We are proud to partner with the State of Wisconsin to grow a world-class work environment that will continue to attract, retain, and recruit the best talent in the world.”

In 2016, WEDC awarded Milwaukee Tool up to $18 million in performance-based state income tax credits for a 200,000-square-foot expansion of its corporate headquarters in Brookfield expected to create about 600 jobs. To ensure the latest expansion would occur in Wisconsin, WEDC amended its contract with Milwaukee Tool to provide an additional $8 million in tax credits.

As a result, the company has agreed to create 942 new jobs, retain its existing jobs, and make $67 million in capital investments through 2022. The actual amount of tax credits the company will receive is contingent upon the number of jobs created and retained, and the amount of capital investment made through 2022.

In addition to the creation of 350 jobs at Milwaukee Tool’s Brookfield headquarters, an economic modeling study estimates the project could indirectly generate 690 additional jobs in the region. Those 1,040 new jobs are expected to generate about $13 million in state income tax revenue over a five-year period.

The construction phase of the project could directly support an additional 160 jobs and 100 indirect jobs.

The City of Brookfield is also supporting the expansion of the city’s largest employer by providing $3.5 million in Tax Increment Financing assistance to help offset the project costs.

“We thank Milwaukee Tool for its continued expansion in the City of Brookfield,” said Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto. “We value Milwaukee Tool as a great corporate citizen and the jobs that are being created are high level, family supporting jobs which benefit our city and the metropolitan area.”

The Milwaukee 7 Regional Economic Development Organization also worked with the company to ensure the expansion took place in the region.

“We’re delighted that Milwaukee Tool has selected southeastern Wisconsin for yet another significant expansion,” said Gale Klappa, co-chair of Milwaukee 7 and chairman and CEO of WEC Energy Group. “The company’s decision to again invest here highlights how attractive the Milwaukee region is to global companies that require skilled knowledge workers. We’re attracting corporate investment at a pace unprecedented in Wisconsin history.”

Milwaukee Tool purchased the 3.5-acre parcel north of Lisbon Road from Wangard, the developer of the Eastgate Business Center. Wangard will be Milwaukee Tool’s lead development and construction management consultant.

To read the full press release as issued by the Governor, please visit this page.